title: Maternal serum interleukin-6 level in preterm labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to measure interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in maternal serum of women undergoing preterm labor without a clear infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty two pregnant women with diagnosis of preterm labor who presented to the outpatient clinic of 19 Mayis University Faculty of Medicine from July 2011 through December 2011 were enrolled in the study group. Twenty two healthy pregnant women who were at the same gestational age as the study group were selected as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gestational age in the study and control groups varied from 24 weeks and 4 days to 34 weeks and 6 days. In the study group, 11 patients (50%) underwent preterm birth. Pregnant women in preterm labor were compared to healthy pregnant women with regards to serum IL-6 levels. No significant difference was found in the IL-6 levels of maternal serum between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study we have shown that there is no increase in lL-6 levels in patients undergoing preterm labor without clinical or biochemical infection signs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Ondokuz Mayis, School of Medicine, Kurupelit, Samsun-Turkey.
authors.forename: Yüksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Işik
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Bahattin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.forename: Miğraci
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tosun
authors.forename: Devran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bildircin
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malatyalioğlu
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012016:Reference Values; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6